Fire Damage can strike buildings made from a wide variety of construction materials. Geography often dictates choice of materials so structures can be built from plastic, wood, iron or steel. Plus, construction of any building usually incorporates more than one type of material. Certain materials are used in selected areas of a building construction and typically can be susceptible to fire damage.

All Materials Are Susceptible to Fire Damage

The right intensity of fire can burn even the hardiest of steel used in building construction. It can actually burst into flames and melt. Although many attempts are made in construction to minimize fire damage exposure, there is no such thing as being 100 percent fire free. Fire eats up properties and structures at an alarming rate every year.

There were more than 1.3 million fires in the U.S. in 2009 that caused more than 3,000 deaths, more than 17,000 injuries, causing $12.5 billion in fire damage. Fire destroys more than buildings. It takes everything in its wake including the contents of structures where the most precious commodity is human life.

Different Types of Fire

Many elements cause fire damage with the most common found in house fires being faulty electrical wiring. The “faulty” part is typically exposed wires that trigger sparks that ignite fires. Fires also occur when there is an electrical surge overloading appliances and other electric equipment that create the initial burn that soon sends flames spreading throughout the structure.

The lack if voltage regulators also cause sockets to overload and, in many cases, actually explode. The electric surge can also build up anywhere in the line causing the wire to explode and ignite a flame, sometimes hidden within walls where fire damage goes undetected until it is too late.

Nature Strikes a Fiery Attack

Mother Nature, usually through the form of lightning, can be a major cause for fire damage. Furthermore, mankind’s push to settle in fire-prone areas has led to increased exposure to naturally occurring fires. These occur most often during summer seasons where dry forests provide ample timber that can easily ignite under the scorching heat of the sun. Forest fires have existed since time out of mind. However, the effects of forest fire damage are only experienced dramatically when these fires reach constructed neighborhoods that sit unsuspected in the path of roaring seasonal fires.

Humans Remain the Main Cause

Through all the statistics kept about the cause of fire, human error remains the top cause. The majority of fire damage is the direct result of accidents resulting from human error. This includes errors such as smoking and falling asleep, leaving appliances turned on when leaving the house for an extended period of time, flammable items placed way too near an open flame and candles and fireplaces left burning overnight without proper supervision resulting in fires breaking out.

Prevention is the Cure

There is an old adage that states – “A Pound of Prevention is Better than an Ounce of Cure.” The same sentiment can easily be applied to fore-proofing a home. The first place to start is the planning and building of structures. The best example is to design a kitchen with the least flammable materials. The latest trend is use of all-steel appliances and tabletops since it is hard to do away with fire damage susceptible electric appliances.

Careful planning and choice can help prevent fire damage from happening.